[Long-term outcome in nonmassive pulmonary embolism. Radiologic, scintigraphic and functional correlation]

54 cases of acute pulmonary embolism were followed for 3 to 4 years by serial chest radiography (plain film and tomography) to survey the radiographic outcome of complete and incomplete pulmonary infarcts in man. A perfusion lung scan (99Tcm-MAA), arterial blood gas analysis and spirometric data were recorded at similar time intervals to chest films in 30 patients. Our retrospective study showed that the most common long-term residual radiographic findings were linear pulmonary scars and localized pleural thickening. The analysis of the radiographic abnormalities with the lung scan showed a residual perfusion defect in 29% of cases, with complete clearing of the infarct on chest radiography. Long term impairment of pulmonary function, estimated with arterial blood gas analysis and spirometric tests, was never observed.